The Osceola times., 1887-07-30


In the morning | wondered WHY 7
had come to lingo. The talk heard
on every hand was not encouragire o
while the murder was ieeatded as a
shocking and brutal crime, it was plain
that tke community did not regret
losing Jones.
|, You sec," said my landlord, .while
ne had the appearance of being clever.
genial fellow, he was always sticking
his nose into everybodys business. and
1t is pretty well known that he was a
oiackmaiier. The people had no con-
hdence in him. Why, sir, when he
made the race for mayor, Hayes beat
him two to one"
Hayes is popular thenP"
"Of course he is He is an honest.
blg-hearted man, with a saint for a
wife and two glorious daughters. One
of his girls is 70 marry our Congress
man next month. Hayes is a self
made man with no nonsense about him.
We call him the poor man friend. He
is so kind-hearted that he would not
hurt flea"
Half an hour later entered the
mayors office and found his honor
alone,
III was unnecessary for me TO stoop
to any deception. As soon as Colonel
Hayes saw me he pronounced my name.
81 saw you once at Piedras Camp in
California, he said, motioning ME
20 chair.
"fou have good memory" was
my reply.
at is not better than yours. Your
eyes told me that you recognized me-"
My plan before left the hotel wss
to call on the mayor and ask for infor-
nation concerning the town and its
prospects. 1t was, of course, my in
tention to bring up the murder in a
casual way. desired to see how Hayes
would look and act while discussing it.
But this prompt recognition embar-
rassed me-
You were in town last weekpn con-
tinued the mayor, looking me straight
in the face
"Yes, | was detained here few
hours"
81 remember seeing you walking up
Main street with Jones, of the Carl
ON
He said this without tremor.
at is pity that you told Jones
about that episode at Piedras Camp"
Colonel Hayes eyed me camly rs be
said this, and his manner was entirely
unconcerned.
"Why should you think--?"
81 simply put two and two together"
replied the mayor. ''ln fact, you had
no sooner left the town than Jones
sought private interview with me.
He wanted to borrow five thousand
dollars, and threw out hint about
Piedras Camp that could not be mis-
taken. Then he said that he would
call in forty-eight hours for final
answer. His untimely death made it
out of the question for him to keep the
appointment
The mayor carelcssly drummed with
his fingers on his desk.
ayes. ] am sorry you told Jones'"
he resumed. in that clear, passionless
voice peculiar to him, "but you did it
without thinking. There was no
malice % it. | knew all about
you in the old days. Your best friend,
Jack Black. was my chum for time.
! saved Jacks life once, and he stuck
to me like a brother after that. | know
you are thinking about that horse
scrape. stole the animal-no doubt
about that But was in n tight place. ]
had to steal or starve, and took the
horse. think have made up for it
since. Ny conscience does not bother
mc.n
81 regretted telling jones'" said
"and ! extorted half promise from
him not to repeat it. | did not know
his true character"
81 knew it was just that way" an
swered Hayes. 81 knew that Jack
Blacks old pard was too square man
to iuiure fellow in my situation. But
it is all right now. Jones is dead, and
/ am not afraid that the story about
the horse will ever come out"
Under the circumstances, | sug-
gested. "it would be terrible blow to
your family"
"Yes. and the Wan who would hound
me down and bring up that old charge
would deserve to be killed like dog
| shuddered. Some body had been
killed like dog
Here am talking about old times"
laughed the mayor, 'without giving
you a chance to state your business
with me. Let me see. You were pass
ing through the place, and as you had
heard something of our boom you
naturally came to me to make few
inquiries Am right?'
He fastened his shrewd eyes upon
mine with the faintest suspicion of a
smile about the corners of his mouth
did not get away from the mayor
that day. nor that night. We drove
over the town. went home with him.
and found that Mrs. Hayes and heI
daughters more than deserved what !
had heard of them.